The Latest Threat To Our Kids' Waistlines is... Green Beans?

Green beans flung at your head and peaches spit out in your hand are one of the many fun rites of passage for new parents but it turns out your toddler may be objecting to more than just slimy textures.

Green beans flung at your head and peaches spit out in your hand are one of the many fun rites of passage for new parents, but it turns out your toddler may be objecting to more than just slimy textures. Thanks to a new study published in the September 2012 edition of the Journal of the American Medical Association, you can now add the can the foods come in to your list of childhood hazards that you never saw coming.

More From Redbook

The study found that the chemical bisphenol A (BPA), also known as the carcinogen and endocrine disruptor that caused a public outcry when it was found in everyday objects like baby bottles, sippy cups, and teething rings, has another bad side effect. As if cancer and early-onset puberty weren't bad enough, now BPA has been connected to an increased risk of child obesity — 50 percent more for kids with the highest levels of BPA in their urine.

After all the drama over BPA a few years ago — I knew there was a reason my kids preferred chewing on my dirty keys to their adorable teething rings! — we all heaved a sigh of relief over our kids' now-BPA-free water bottles and silly straws. Proving again there's no respite from parental worrying; however, the study found that the biggest source of BPA in a child's life is not plastic beverage containers shaped like anatomically incorrect elephants that you buy for eight dollars at the zoo and don't even include free refills (not that I'm bitter or anything), but tin and aluminum cans. And the toxic chemical doesn't just contaminate already bad-for-you stuff like soda pop; it's also found in the lining of healthy fare like canned beans, fruits, and vegetables.

So what's a mom to do with this new disturbing info? The researchers advise protesting with our pocketbooks: "We know that 99 percent of our exposure to BPA is from food, and cans are currently the major source. Choosing fresh [and frozen] fruits and vegetables can limit BPA exposure." They add, "The power of the purse or wallet can't be underestimated. Families have a lot of latitude to choose a healthier lifestyle."

In addition, this research sheds new light into the causes of childhood obesity. "It demonstrates the need for a broader paradigm in the way we think about childhood obesity," says researcher Leonardo Trasande, MD, an associate professor of pediatrics and environmental medicine at the New York University School of Medicine. "We often think of it as a byproduct of an unhealthy diet and lack of physical activity, but environmental exposures including chemicals may play a role, too."

While the FDA still insists that smalls amounts of BPA are harmless, they are funding additional studies and until we know more, when it comes to my kids I'd rather not take the risk. Plus, fresh green beans from the farmer's market get flung back at me with less frequency than the canned variety, so it's a win all around.

Do you feed your kids a lot of canned foods? Does this research change how you'll feed your kids?